Office



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sh'eet 1;

S. E. BURKE.

ROAD CART.

No. 457,600. Patented Aug. 11, 1891.

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(No-Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

-S.- E. BURKE. ROAD GART No. 457,600. Patented Aug. 11, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC STEPHEN E. BURKE, OF EDON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO LElVIS WW. JOHNSON, OF SAME PLACE.

ROAD-CART.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 457,600, dated August11, 1891.

Application filed January 19, 1891. Serial No. 378,291. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN E. BURKn,a citizen of the United States,residing at- Edon, 1n the county of lVilliams and State of Ohio, 5 haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Road-Carts; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to vehicles, more particularly to what are termedroad or dog carts; and it has for its object to support the body or boxof the vehicle entirelyindependent of the thills; also, to support it bymeans of equalizing and torsional-spring bars connected to supports,substantially as hereinafter set forth; also, to provide means foradjusting the body or box of the vehicle to the stature of the horse todraw it, so as thereby to keep the body or box level, or substantiallyso; also, to provide improved means for connecting the whiffletree tothe vehicle.

It has further for its object to gencrallyimprove the construction ofroad or dog carts, whereby the same are rendered stronger,

more durable, lighter, and neater in appearance, and the disagreeablehorse motion is entirely overcome, the novel features for effectingwhich will be hereinafter particularly described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which-Figure 1 is arear elevation of a cart with my invention applied thereto.Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, with the wheels removed and a portionof the thills and the rear of the body broken away, the dotted linesindicat ing the outline of the broken-away portion of the body. Fig. 3is a front view of a port-ion of the body, showing the manner of joiningthe equalizing-bars thereto. Fig. l is a plan view of the meeting facesof the socket-block in which the ball ends of the equalizing-bars arejournaled at the front of the body or box. Fig. 5 is a perspective ofthe two parts of the 5 socket-block in which the rear ball ends ofspective of the axle, main spring, and thill,

the equalizing-bars are journaled. Fig. 6 is a perspective of a portionof the axle and thill, showing also the torsional-spring bar fitting inits socket on the axle and the manner of attaching the same to the thillto adjust the 5 5 body or box to the height of the horse. Fig.

7 is a perspective of the socket-block for the torsional spring, showingthe same resting upon a portion of the axle. Fig. 8 is a perand of theequalizing and torsional-spring bars for one side of the vehicle. Fig. 9is a plan of a portion of the whiffletree and of the spring forconnecting the same to the vehicle, the spring being in its normal orclosed position. Fig. 10 is a similar view of the same parts, but thespring being in its distended position, as when the draft is on. Fig. 11is a perspective view of the bolt that passes through the whiftletreeand connects with the spring.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter .A designates the wheels; B,the axle; C, the thills; D and E, the cross-bar connecting the thills;F, the box or body, and G the seat, all of which may be of anywell-known approved form. Under the present invention the box or body Fis suspended or supported from the rear of the vehicle without anyconnection to the thills or part connecting therewith at or opposite tothe forward portion of the box or body. This entirely frees the box orbody from the horse motion heretofore prevailing to a greater or lessdegree in vehicles of this class. lhe body or box may be supported orsuspended in various ways to arrive at the advantages gained by mypresent invention; but the preferred and what I consider the best meansfor effecting the object is that which I-have illustrated and shall nowpro- 9c ceed to describe. It will be observed that the equalizing-bars Hare connected at their rear ends to the main spring I, which at its endsis. suspended from hangers J, of any approved form, extending from therear of the thills and at their forward ends to the forward portion ofthe box or body. It is preferred to form the forward ends of theseequalizingbars with balls a, fitted in sockets b, formed in the two-partblock K, which is secured by too bolts or otherwise to the forward partof the box or body under the sill, as illustrated, and to likewise formthe rear ends of said bars with balls fitting in sockets d, formed inthe two-part block L, secured to the main spring I by clips 6 orotherwise To give firmness and strength to this mode of support and toafford a torsional-sp ring elasticity to the body, the equalizing-bars Hare connected to torsional-spring bars M in any suitable manner,preferably by clips f at the forward ends of the torsional-spring barsencircling the equalizing-bars between collars g, formed thereon,

and by clips 72., encircling the equalizing-bars and torsional-springbars toward their rear between the collars 0; andj, formed,respectively, thereon, and connecting the two bars together at suchpoints, said clips having a loose connection with the bars where theyencircle the same. I do not, however, restrict myself to such means ofconnecting the bars. The torsional-spring bars M at their rear ends arebent downwardly, and then, as shown at k, horizontally, and then, asshown at I, upwardly, and then connected to the thills say to the lowerface of the thills. The horizontal portion of the torsional-spring barsare secured by clips on to the axle, preferably in a manner to permitthe horizontal portion to turn, and in order to afford a durable bearingfor the horizontal portion of the bar a metallic block or bearing N isplaced between the bar and axle B and secured by the same clips thatsecure the bar to the axle. This bearing-block is formed with a cavityofor the horizontal portion of the torsional-spring bar to lie in, andalso, preferably, with a socket p for the butt-end of the thill to restin.

While I prefer such details of parts specified, I do not restrict myselfthereto. By the general construction described the box or body issuspended freely between the thills without any connection between itsforward part and adjacent part of the vehicle that would transmit thehorse motion to it, and consequently the box or body is relieved of allthe horse motion which is so disagreeable and objectionable in vehiclesof this class as heretofore constructed.

It is also the experience in vehicles of this sort that while the box orbody may set substantially level with a horse of a given height, itwill, when a horse of another height is hitched to it, be more or lessremoved from a level or horizontalism, and then the occupant of the cartexperiences the discomfort consequent thereupon. In order to overcomethat objectionable feature to the cart, I attach the rear end of thetorsional-spring bar M to the thill by suitable means that will permitit to be drawn closer to or removed farther from the thill, whichadjustment will raise or lower the torsional-spring bar, andconsequently the box or body connected thereto through theequalizing-bars, and thus the box or body will be adjusted to the heightof the horse hitched to the Vehicle and it placed in a substantiallylevel or horizontal position and the sides of the torsional-spring bar,as illustrated, so as to hold the bar to its adjustment. A nut r on thebolt close to the under face of the thill will hold the bolt tightly toits place. \Vhile the particular means described for adjusting thetorsional-sprin g bars will be effective for the purpose, I do notrestrict myself to such means.

In my patent, No. 422,291, of February 25, 1890, for road-carts, I havedescribed and claimed a loop -spring for connecting the whiffietree toa'vehicle, and such in practice has been found to be efficient; but Ihave made certain additions thereto, which are found to greatly improvethe same in some particulars, and such improvements will now bedescribed, and are illustrated in detail in Figs. 9 and 10 of theaccompanying drawings and shown applied in Fig. 2 of the drawings to theparticular form of vehicle there illustrated. The springP is in generalconstruction similar to that shown in the patent referred to. At itscentral portion there is placed against its inner face opposite to theportion to which the whiffietree itself is applied a block Q, of metalor other suitable material, secured to the spring bybolts s, which alsopass through a steel plate 25 011 the opposite face of the spring, thusgreatly strengthening the plate at that point. This block Q is formedwith a hole at for the bolt which swivels the whiffletree to the vehicleand in its extension 1; is a threaded aperture to receive the threadedend of a bolt R, which serves to brace the parts and at the same time asa stop which limits the distention of the spring. This bolt is formedwith a flattened head w, which plays in a recess or socket formed in thewhifiietree S, and the shank of the bolt passes through the front partof the spring and screws into the threaded opening in the block Q, asstated. By screwing or unscrewing the bolt its length outside of theblock Q is regulated and the extent that the spring shall be distended,fixed, and controlled, as it is apparent that the front part of thespring cannot be pulled farther than to the head of the bolt, whichlimits its play. The whifiietree S is secured to the front portion ofthe spring by III.)

bolts cc, which pass through the whiflietree and the spring, as well asthrough a leather washer z, placed between the tree and spring andthrough the plate T, which is placed against the inside face of thespring and is formed with ears y, bearing against the edges of thespring. It is obvious that the bolt R, besides serving as alimiting-stop for the spring, also takes lateral strain from ofi thespring and greatly strengthens the parts. The head of the bolt R isflattened, so that the recess in the whifiletree need not be made solarge as to detract from the strength of the tree.

The advantages of the several features of the invention will from theforegoing description be apparent to those skilled in the art and neednot be again set forth in detail or enlarged upon. It is also apparentfrom the description that the details of the several parts can be variedwithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claimis- 1. In a vehicle, the combination, with the box or body, of theequalizing-bars having a ball-and-socket connection to the forwardportion of the box or body anda ball-and-socket connection to a supportat the rear of the vehicle, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. In a vehicle, the combination, with the box or body, ofequalizing-bars connected with the box or body and with a support at;

the rear of the vehicle, and torsional-spring bars connected with asupport and with said equalizing-bars, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

3. In a vehicle, the combination, with the box or body, ofequalizing-bars connected with the box or body and with a support at therear of the vehicle, and torsional-spring bars connected to saidequalizing-bars and having a movable portion at an angle to theirlength, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a vehicle, the combination, with the box or body, ofequalizing-bars connected thereto, and torsional-spring bars connectedto said equalizing-bars and to a support, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth;

5. In a vehicle, the combination, with the box or body, ofequalizing-bars connected thereto, and torsional-spring bars connectedthereto and with the thills of the vehicle, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

6. In a vehicle, the combination, with the box or body, oftorsional-spring bars having a connection with the thills, and meansconnecting said bars with the box or body, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

7. In a vehicle, the combination, with the box or body, oftorsional-spring bars, means connecting the same with the box or body,and means connecting the same adjustably with the thills, whereby thebody may be maintained in a substantially level position, substantiallyas described.

8. In a vehicle, the combination, with the box or body, oftorsional-spring bars, means connecting said bars with the box or body,and means adjustably connecting the bars with another part of thevehicle to maintain the box or body in a substantially level position,substantially as described.

9. In a vehicle, the combination, with the box or body, oftorsional-spring bars, means connecting said bars with the box or body,and the bolts passed through the thills and said bars and provided withmeans for adjusting the connection between the thills and bars,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In a vehicle, the combination, with the box or body, of thetorsional-spring bars having a horizontal portion resting over the axle,bearing-blocks formed with cavities to receive the horizontal portion ofsaid bars, and means securing the boxes and bars to the axle,substantially as described.

11. In a vehicle, the combination, with the thills and the torsionalsprings, of the bearing-block formed with cavities receiving thetorsional-springs and the ends of the thills and secured to the axle,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

12. In a vehicle, the combination, with the box or body and the mainspring having a suitable support, of the equalizing-bars connected atone end to the box or body and at the other end supported from saidspring, and the torsional'spring bars connected to said equalizing-barsand adjustably to the thills and having a bearing between said thillsand equalizing-bars, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

13. The combination, with a whiffietree, of the loop-spring to beattached to the vehicle and having the whiflietree connected to theforward portion thereof, and the bolt extending from the rear portion ofthe loop-spring and having a loose connection with the portion of thespring to which the whiffletree is attached to permit that portion ofthe spring to have movement thereon when it is pulled. from its normalposition by a draft on the whiflietree and at the same time limit themovement of that portion of the spring from its normal position,substantially as described.

14. The combination, with the whiftletree, of the loop-spring, the blockattached to the rear portion of the spring, and the bolt havin g anadjustable connection with said block and a loose connection with thefront portion of the spring, whereby the front portion of the spring isallowed movement on saidbolt and the extent of the movement controlledby the adjustment of the bolt, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

STEPHEN E. BURKE.

Witnesses:

C. F. HoUK, J. W. CUMMINGS.

